Novel distributed slot synchronization technique for optical WDM packet networks

Recently, a number of projects aimed at the implementation of optical packet-switched network prototypes have been announced. A common and critical element of these networks is the need to achieve time-slot synchronization over the whole network. Stanford University is currently implementing CORD, a two-node optical wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) packet-switched network testbed with a star topology, featuring all-optical receiver contention resolution by means of optical switches and delay lines. This paper describes a flexible, distributed digital slot synchronization technique for CORD which is robust and scalable.